"Without the knowledge of Election Commission, you passed off the 12 digit number in the receipt, which was a red identity card number, as a blue one and registered as a voter," said Jamil as a nervous Omar concurred.

Omar proceeded to register as a voter in 1991 and subsequently voted in the 1999 and 2004 general elections as well as the 1994 Sabah state elections.

Jamil explained that Omar had exploited a flaw as the 12-digit system was implemented in the same year - 1999.

He said the EC, which was in the process of updating to this new system, failed to cross reference the new 12-digit numbers with the old identity card numbers which the prefix 'H', indicating that they are red ICs.